Along with longing for ministers who would evangelize, Turnbull hoped for ministers who would teach and thus help Christians grow in both faith and discipleship. While we should never look down upon our parishioners as though from some position of lofty superiority, Turnbull believed we can never assume our people are at their highest level of development. There is always a need for solid teaching of both Bible and doctrine.

He did not limit teaching to the pulpit but he expected there to be a great deal of teaching from the pulpit. With an eye on the Reformers who opened the Bible to their people through systematic exposition of the scriptures, Turnbull believed sermons should be loaded with solid content. He saw this as the pathway to sturdier churches, as well as stronger Christians. He also believed this regular exposition of Bible books and Christian doctrine was the key to a lasting ministry.

Turnbull gave due consideration to the hearer when he reflected upon the minister's aims in preaching. He thought of the plight of modern men and women, and spoke of their fears and frustrations. As he did so, he often appealed to contemporary fiction for its description of, if not insight into, the condition of persons today. He found anxieties and insecurities abound, as do feelings of lostness and spiritual hunger. He believed the preaching ministry could offer much in the way of healing, chiefly by addressing such maladies bravely and with the language of faith as that language is shaped by Bible and doctrine. Much of this is a matter of interpreting life in terms of sin and of God's proffer of grace. Thus we bring healing and comfort not merely by showing sympathy but by imparting strength and hope.

3. Turnbull was a lover of the preacher's resources. All the above makes the work of ministry seem large, and so it is. Nevertheless, Turnbull believed God supplies every pastor with the resources necessary to accomplish these tasks insofar as results are within the minister's ability. He was at his best when he was discussing these resources.

Chief among the resources is the Bible. Effective preaching of the gospel calls for serious study of the scriptures. As in everything else, Turnbull's models in this are his heroes from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. He speaks admiringly of Edwards, who spent thirteen hours a day in his study, and of others who studied regularly and systematically to gain knowledge of the Bible, a knowledge both deep and wide. This is such an essential element in ministerial work that Turnbull speaks of the minister as being set apart by God and congregation for the special kind of study required for gospel preaching.

Along with systematic study of the Bible, there should be study of other books as well. Here Turnbull referred to books of all sorts, though with preference given to ones more directly theological. Even so, he stressed the merits of reading fiction, too, and especially classic literature. He rather expected a minister's library to be first-rate and much used. If financial con-straints make book ownership difficult, lending libraries should be exploited for all they are worth.